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What's Up Docs?

BBC Radio 4
What's Up Docs?
Latest episode

189 episodes

  • What's Up Docs?

    Drs' Notes: Can 'recreational fear' be good for you?

    27/10/2026 | 22 mins.
    Chris and Xand van Tulleken continue their conversation with Professors Marc Andersen and Mathias Clasen.
    Together, they explore the work Marc and Mathias do at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark. Chris and Xand also uncover the different types of horror fans, and how Marc and Mathias would design the perfect, haunted house.
    If you'd like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Professors Marc Andersen and Mathias Clasen
    Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Researcher: Mill Ostojic
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Visual Producer: Leon Gower
    Technical Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
  • What's Up Docs?

    Why do we love scary movies?

    27/10/2026 | 28 mins.
    Welcome to What's Up Docs?, the podcast where doctors and identical twins Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore the ideas shaping our health and wellbeing.
    In this episode, they turn their attention to recreational fear - the kind we experience when we actively seek out things that make us afraid, for pleasure!
    Joined by Professors Marc Andersen and Mathias Clasen, co-directors of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark, they explore what recreational fear is, and what happens in the body when we experience it. Chris and Xand also find out what the different forms of recreational fear are, and what might compel us to seek our fear for fun.
    If you want to get in touch, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Professors Marc Andersen and Mathias Clasen
    Producer: Maia Miller-Lewis
    Researcher: Mill Ostojic
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Visual Producer: Leon Gower
    Technical Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
  • What's Up Docs?

    Drs' Notes: Can your joints repair themselves?

    20/10/2026 | 31 mins.
    Doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken continue their conversation about osteoarthritis with Professor Tonia Vincent, Director of the Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis and professor of musculoskeletal biology at University of Oxford.
    They talk more about what happens inside the joints when you have arthritis, how Tonia got into this line of study, and why this area of medicine is in the process of transformation and how this may lead to changes in other areas of medicine.
    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Professor Tonia Vincent
    Producer: Claire Justin
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Researcher: Claire Justin
    Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Visual Producer: Leon Gower
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Olga Reed
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
  • What's Up Docs?

    Will we all get osteoarthritis?

    20/10/2026 | 28 mins.
    Welcome to What’s Up Docs?, the podcast where identical twin doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken cut through the confusion around every aspect of our health and wellbeing.
    In this episode they look into the incredibly common joint disease, osteoarthritis. Known as the wear and tear disease, around a sixth of the population suffers from a form of osteoarthritis but why do most of us get it? And what can we do to manage it?
    To help answer these questions they are joined by Professor Tonia Vincent, Director of the Centre for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis and professor of musculoskeletal biology at University of Oxford.
    If you’d like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Professor Tonia Vincent
    Producer: Claire Justin
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Researcher: Claire Justin
    Tech Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Visual Producer: Leon Gower
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Olga Reed
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4
  • What's Up Docs?

    Drs' Notes: How can spots affect mental health?

    13/10/2026 | 22 mins.
    In this Doctor's Notes episode of What's Up Docs?, Chris and Xand van Tulleken continue their conversation with Professor Tess McPherson, Consultant Dermatologist at Oxford University Hospitals.
    Together, they explore the emotional side of acne, discussing why a visible skin condition can have such a profound effect on confidence and mental health. They look at how social media, filtered images and skincare influencers have shaped expectations around "perfect skin", and whether there is a particular stigma attached to adult acne. The conversation also turns to skincare treatment.
    If you'd like to share your thoughts on this or any other topic covered on the podcast, you can email us at whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk.
    Presenters: Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken
    Guest: Professor Tess McPherson
    Producer: Dr Samara Linton
    Researcher: Grace Revill
    Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
    Editor: Jo Rowntree
    Visual Producer: Leon Gower
    Technical Lead: Reuben Huxtable
    Digital Lead: Richard Berry
    Composer: Phoebe McFarlane
    Sound Design: Melvin Rickarby
    At the BBC:
    Assistant Commissioner: Greg Smith
    Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
    A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
More Health & Wellness podcasts
About What's Up Docs?
In this BBC Radio 4 podcast, Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken are on a mission to help us take better care of ourselves.Although they are identical twins, Chris and Xand are very different and they never stop thinking and arguing about science and health. They want to lead healthy, happy lives and as doctors, they want this for everyone. Yet they tussle over how best to get there.When it comes to looking after our own health, it can be confusing. Medicine and science produce amazing new treatments and diagnostics every day and we are bombarded with so many headlines and pieces of advice; but how are we supposed to know what's really best for us and then successfully apply it to our lives?Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken embrace this challenge; even as they marvel at the scientific breakthroughs, they grapple with the competing claims about health, wellbeing and how to live.From understanding testosterone therapies to microplastics in our diets, and the concept of 'hangriness' to the power of saying no - this podcast deals with the health stresses we all face every day, while taking on board how the decisions by corporations and governments affect all our health.Each episode, Chris and Xand are joined by an expert guest to examine the latest research, psychological insights, and data, to help listeners navigate the overwhelming amount of information and advice out there. They talk about the trials and tribulations in their own lives in their characteristically witty way - each teasing the other as they search for solutions. Xand has trouble sleeping , Chris has noisy knees, one of them has got an embarrassing itch. They have different ways of looking at things and find it really helpful to get the other one's point of view. These doctors are trying their best and encouraging listeners to do the same.Email: whatsupdocs@bbc.co.uk Whatsapp: 08000 665123A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4.
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What's Up Docs?: Podcasts in Family